Announcement

The "E" Ticket

Ad Widget

The "E" Ticket

Leon and Jack Janzen grew up in the San Fernando Valley. Their first visit to Disneyland was in 1958. The brothers were hooked. The became frequent visitors to the Park and began to collect souvenirs, photos, and memories.

Many years later, in the Spring of 1985, they read a Disney News article about Disneyland collectibles by former Disney Chief Archivist David R. Smith. The brothers were inspired and decided they would produce a newsletter for dealers and fans that collected vintage souvenirs from Disneyland.

In 1986, Issue #1 was released. The brothers Xeroxed 200 copies for $60 and put the black and white pages between a two-color printed cover. They decided that the back cover would always feature a photo of Walt Disney. They gave the first issue away for free. The response was positive and immediate.

The first four issues featured mostly vintage Disneyland souvenirs from their own collection. Issue #5 would suggest the future when Imagineer Tom Scherman contributed an article about the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

The real breakthrough came in Issue #7 with an interview with Imagineers Marc and Alice Davis. This was the beginning of a long series of talks with the people who worked with Walt Disney and built the Park. The brothers recorded the stories of Bob Gurr, Rolly Crump, Roger Broggie Sr., Ken Anderson, Ward Kimball, Harper Goff, Wally Boag, John Hench, Sam McKim, Ollie Johnston, Bill Martin, Blaine Gibson, Tony Baxter, Bill Evans, Wathel Rogers, Frank Thomas, Marvin Davis, Bob Sewell, Marty Sklar, Fess Parker, Bud Hurlbut, Ray Bradbury, Michael Broggie, and Art Linkletter.

Tragically, on September 9, 2003 Leon Janzen passed away. Jack continued a few more years but decided to cease publication in 2009 with Issue #46.

Sam Gennawey is an urban planner, historian, and author.

If you enjoy reading SAMLAND, you'll love his book. Walt and the Promise of Progress City is a detailed look into how Walt Disney envisioned the future of communities. Along the way, we explore many facets of a fascinating man.

I, too, am lucky enough to own a complete collection of The "E" Ticket Magazine. My very first issue was #14, the tour of Main Street, and from there I was hooked. I bought all of the earlier issues from a friend who was looking for cash to rebuild an old sports car.

Every issue was packed with great stories and detailed interviews. BTW, Sam, your info is a bit inaccurate. The first full-color cover was #23, The Jungle Cruise. I prefer the charm and texture of the old monochrome covers, though; it really gives character to the artwork.

For those of you who want to get ahold of back issues or the CD's, try contacting the Walt Disney Family Museum directly. When the third back issue CD became available I sent them an e-mail and they were very helpful to get it shipped up to me.

I too celebrate the terrific legacy of what Jack and Leon had done - and check out this shocking fact. Despite Marty Sklar having assisted and helped Jack & Leon with their E-Ticket magazine, and that Jack and Leon had interviewed those directly responsible for the designs, crafting and manufacturing of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride attraction(s), and they had assistance from Disney’s top two archivist, Dave Smith and Robert Tieman too, I have a legal 2006/2007 document (Disney has a copy too) in which Marty Sklar himself, on behalf of the Walt Disney Company, had proclaimed under oath that for all purposes Jack and Leon Janzen and their E-Ticket magazine weren't a credible resource. Furthermore, also during legal proceedings, that on one hand the Walt Disney Company, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio had presented a copy of The E-Ticket magazine with which to proclaim it was proof of what Marc Davis had designed, but on the other hand they also represented that Jack and Leon Janzen and Marc Davis were ignorant liars when it came to Marc Davis' creative work for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride attraction.